I believe the location is near Kenton looking south between the opening of the electrified lines and the mid 1920's. Four of the first five vehicles are LNWR D468 21ft 0in open fish trucks with the third being a D466 21ft 0in open carriage truck with the higher sides.

Philip A.Millard — 18-Aug-2015 8.21 AM

I agree with Bob. What are the wooden crosses?

Reg Instone — 18-Aug-2015 8.05 PM

Yes, Bob is correct. The train is on the Down Slow line at Kenton. I think
it's footbridge 40 to the north of the station at Bonnersfield Lane,
although it could perhaps be footbridge 37. See discussion of this area in
the letters column of vol.10 no.7.
The headlamp code is not easy to see, but I think it is for an Express
Goods (No.6 lamps). The "Experiment" presumably has the vacuum brake - it
is possible that it has a fitted head including the fish trucks (which
were fitted) and is thus running under "maltese cross" conditions. If it
dates from after May 1925 then the LMS code applies and it is a Through
Freight, but essentially the same sort of train as the previous Express
Goods. The fish trucks are probably empty, being returned to Crewe or
elsewhere to "wait orders".
As to date, it is after the New Line was electrified in 1917. It is
perhaps more likely to be early 1920s, as the new houses on the up side
might be of a style related to that date. No doubt the date they were
built could be established by searching the Building Plans of the relevant
Borough or UDC.

Reg Instone — 19-Aug-2015 10.58 PM

further notes - 1652 got its LMS number in Aug 1927 according to Baxter.
So it's before then.
And Philip - the "crosses" are the support posts for the cable troughing.
(Not graves of deceased railwaymen!)

Huw Edwards — 08-Oct-2015 12.38 PM

From a plan of the line, I can confirm that the photo is of Bridge No 40 taken looking eastwards. The bridge is located about 1/4 mile north of Kenton Station. Today it is officially known as ‘Kenton Recreation Ground Bridge’ and is located at 10 miles 1,079 yards from Euston Station.